Billet feeding device



Oct. 23, 1962 A. J. TRUE BILLET FEEDING DEVICE Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 20, 1959 v INVENTOR.

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Oct 23, 1962 v A. J. TRUE BILLET FEEDING DEVICE INVENTOR.

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BILLET FEEDING DEVICE Filed July 20, 1959 5 h w- WNW/MIL W limitedStates Patent .52

3,059,783 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,788 BILLET FEEDING DEVICE ArthurJ. True, Lisle, 11]., assignor to Union Tank Car Company, Chicago, 111.,a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 20, 1959, Ser. No. 828,132 3Claims. (Cl. 214-18) The invention relates to a billet feeding devicehaving particular utility as a feeding arrangement for a furnace whichis associated with a repeater or bar mill or the like.

Those skilled in the art of steel mill operation, and particularly thattype of mill known as a bar mill, will understand that it is necessaryto heat the to-be-formed billet to a semi-plastic state prior toreforming the billet into an elongated bar or the like by operationthereon in a series of roller dies. In order that the billet be broughtto the desired heated temperature to accommodate the subsequentreforming, it is necessary that the billet spend an appropriate amountof time in a furnace depending upon billet size and furnace temperaturelevel. Additionally, modern methods of mill design and productioncontrol have dictated an increased use of automation to reduceproduction costs and improve mill efficiency.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a billetfeeding device arranged to efficiently and automatically feed billets toa furnace prior to passage of the billet or billets through a mill.

The invention particularly comprehends a billet source, means to selectthe billets from the source and automatically carry same to a supplyrail, means to select a determined number of billets from the supplyrail and deposit same in a determined physical order relative to eachother on a furnace line, and additional means to periodically feed theselected billets to and through the furnace.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in thecourse of the following description, and from an examination of theassociated drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thedevice,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the deviceillustrated in FIGURE 1 in retracted, loading position,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 2, showing thedevice in forward feeding position,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken approximately along line 4--4of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a typical power driveassociated with the arrangement.

Describing the invention in detail, attention is first directed toFIGURE 1 wherein a billet source, indicated generally at 2, is provided.The source 2 comprises a plurality of angularly arranged rails 6 whichdefine a trough 8 wherein the billets shown at 10 are deposited. Aconveyor belt, indicated generally at 14, is sprocketed at its upper endas at 16 to a rotatable shaft 18 and at its lower end, as at 20, to asecond rotatable shaft 22. The conveyor belt is provided with aplurality of equally spaced pick-up lugs 24, said lugs being arranged toengage and carry the billets 10 in the trough 8 and carry same upwardly.Directing attention briefly to FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the shaft18 is journally mounted in bearings as at 28, and is provided with adriving mechanical connection 30 to a conventional power source andspeed reducer, indicated generally at 32. Thus, the conveyor 14 underthe action of the power source 32 is urged to provide the motiondescribed.

Consideration now will be given to the fragmentary view of the structureillustrated in FIGURE 4, and as more completely disclosed in theelevational view of FIGURE 1. It will first be noted that a pair ofspaced supply rails 31, 31 are mounted at the upper end adjacent therotatable shaft 18, and extend angularly downwardly whereat they aresecured to the frame. The supply rails 31 are obviously in operativerelation with the conveyor 14 as it goes around its upper sprocket 16.It will thus be apparent that billets carried by the lugs 24 will bedeposited on the supply rails 31 in longitudinal abutting relationshipWith each other. In view of the fact that the supply rails 31 angledownwardly, it will be apparent that billets placed thereon will tend toslide by the action of gravity downwardly and therealong. Accordingly,each supply rail 31 is provided with an abutment or stop 33 to preventfurther movement of the billets placed thereon.

A direct current motor 34 is mounted below the device, and isoperatively connected via a conventional driving arrangement (not shown)to a shaft 36 which is provided with a crank 38. The crank 38 ispivotally connected to a link 40 which, in turn, is pivotally connectedat its other end to the lower end of a rocker arm 42. The rocker arm 42is, of course, journalled as at 44 to the basic frame of the device. Itwill thus be understood that under the action of the direct currentmotor 34, the crank 38 rotates which in turn induces a rocking action ofthe arm 42 by virtue of the link connection 40. It will be understoodthat a direct current motor is here employed in order to offer the speedcontrol desired, whereby the time of billet feed through the associatedfurnace may be easily controlled. This action will hereinafter bedescribed in detail. The upper end of the rocker arm 42 is pivotallyconnected, as at 46, to one end of a central member 48. The member 48 isprovided with a transverse pin 50 at the end thereof opposite thementioned end. Opposed ends of the pin 50 are pin-and-slot mounted to apair of spaced rams 52, 52 (as at 54, 54). The rams 52 are guidablymounted for linear reciprocating motion in the respective channels 56,56. It will also be noted that the member 48 has at the upper sidethereof an angular elevating cam 58 as will be apparent in FIG- URES 1and 4. The elevating cam 58 is, of course, fixedly mounted to the member48.

A billet-separating device is indicated generally at 60, and ispositioned operatively intermediate the supply rails 31. The separatordevice 6% comprises a pair of spaced plates 62, 62 pivotally journalledto the frame, as at '64, 64. The plates 62 are fixedly interconnected bytransverse plates 68 and 70. It will be noted that the plates 68 and 70are at variable elevations whereby the separator at is provided with astep or abutment '72. It will also be noted that the terminating edge ofthe plate 7% is arranged to protrude beyond the abutment 33 (FEGURE l),and the step 72 defines with the plate 76 a billet-holding pocket 76-thepurpose of which will be hereinafter described in detail. A pair ofspaced members 73, 78 is secured to the underside of the separator 60,and is arranged to straddle the member A roller is pivotally mounted tothe outer extremities of the elements 78 and in operative cam relationwith the cam member 53 earlier described.

When considering the operation of the arrangement, attention isdirected, for purposes of clarity, to the simplified illustrations ofFIGURES 2 and 3. It will be understood that the face or edge of thefurnace (not shown) is illustrated by the line 90. The furnace line overwhich the billets move during the heating process is indicated by theline 92. The billets It) in the supply trough 2 are engaged by the lugs24 of the conveyor 14 and are carried upwardly. Each lug will usuallycarry two billets, though more or less may be carried depending on lugdesign. As the conveyor moves, the billets are carried upwardly asnoted, and deposited in longitudinal abutting relationship on the supplyrail 31. The billets move downwardly along the supply rail 31 until thelowermost billet abuts the stop 33 provided in said supply rail. Ifdesired, a limit switch (not shown) or any equivalent device may beelectrically interlocked in any conventional manner with the conveyorpower source 32, whereby the conveyor may be shut off when a determinednumber of billets have been deposited on the supply rail 31.

Considering specifically FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the arrangementis in retracted loading position. A plurality of billets are on thefurnace line 92 undergoing the heating process. The rocker arm 42 is atits extreme right position, as seen in side elevational view, and theroller 80 associated with the separator 60 is at the bottom of the cam58. It will also be noted that the shelf 70 is immediately below thelowermost billet 10 on the supply rail 31.

Upon forward feeding motionthat is, to the leftof the rocker arm 42, themember 48 is urged leftwardly together with the rams 52. Leftwardmovement of the rams 52 causes same to engage a billet 10 on the furnaceline 92, and to incrementally urge same therethrough.

As a result of the leftward movement of the member 48, the cam 53engages roller 80 causing same to ride upwardly therealong. Upwardmotion of the roller 80 induces an arcuate upward pivoting action of theseparator 60, whereby the plates 70 raises the lowermost billet 10 anddeposits same in the pocket 76. This action is illustrated at fill inFIGURE 3. It will also be understood that the separator action isconcurrent with the pushing action described above.

Upon reaching its maximum stroke, the rocker arm reverses its directionand proceeds to the retracted position of FIGURE 2. The roller 80 willbe carried down the cam 58 as a result of the eccentric weightedrelation of the separator 64 with its pivot 64. Downward movement of theseparator 60 deposits the billet 10 formerly in the pocket 76 on ahigher rail 96 of the pair of rails 31. As soon as the pocket 76disappears below the surfaces 96, the deposited billet is free to fallby gravity along the surface 96 and into position on the furnace line92. The sequence of action described, of course, is continuouslyrepetitive.

Thus, it will be seen that l have provided a billet feeding device whichautomatically and selectably deposits the billets in proper relation tobe fed into a billet heating furnace, and additionally controls thepassage of the billets through such furnace. By using the device asillustrated in the preferred embodiment, or any mechanical equivalentthereof, the arrangement is readily adaptable to the modern efficient,semi-automated production of an up-to-date steel mill.

The invention as shown is by way of illustration and not limitation, andmay be subject to various modifications without departing from thespirit thereof or the scope of the .appcnded claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type described, a billetsource, a supply rail, means associated with the source to selectbillets therefrom, said means being operative to carry said billets tosaid supply rail and deposit same thereon in parallel abutting relationto each other, a furnace feed line in spaced relation to the supplyrail, a movable billet selector device embodying at least one actuatorhaving an integral stop portion for elevating a selected billet and forholding the remaining billets on said supply rail and, further, pocketmeans for holding the selected billet above said supply rail, saidselected billet being movable by gravity into a position to be engagedby a billet pusher when said actuator has completed its operative cycle,and a movable billet pusher arranged to intermittently engage thebillets on said line and to urge them therealong in a furnace feeddirection.

2. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type including conveyor meansfor transporting billets from a billet source, rail means for receivingsaid billets from said conveyor means, said rail means being inclineddownwardly to permit downward gravity movement of said billets, abutmentmeans on said rail means for restraining the downward movement of. saidbillets, said abutment means including a first portion extendinggenerally transversely of said rail means and including a second portionspaced from and extending parallel above said rail means for supportingsaid billets, and actuating means including a first portion forelevating a selected billet above said rail means and for restrainingthe downward movement of the remaining billets on the rail means andfurther including pocket means integral with said first portion forrestraining said selected billet elevated from said rail means, saidpocket means when above said abutment means acting independently of saidfirst portion to hold said selected billet and when below said abutmentmeans permitting gravity movement of said selected billet along saidabutment means.

3. In a furnace feeding arrangement of the type including conveyor meansfor transporting billets from a billet source, rail means for receivingsaid billets from said conveyor means and including a pair of spacedapart rails inclined downwardly to permit gravity movement of saidbillets, abutment means on said rail means for restraining the downwardmovement of said billets and including a pair of stop members secured tothe upper portion of the lower sections of said rails, and actuatingmeans including pivotally mounted actuators located between the lowersections of said rails and having engaging portions movable betweenpositions beneath the rails and positions above said rails, each of saidengaging portions having a stop portion for holding the billets on therails and a cut-away portion for elevating and holding a selected billetabove said rails on top of said stop members, said selected billet beingmovable by gravity downwardly over said stop members when said actuatorsmove from positions above to positions below the rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,209,340 Landry July 30, 1940 2,231,087 Protin Feb. 11, 1941 2,249,529Knights July 15, 1941 2,800,216 Muller July 23, 1957

